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Operating Aspects of

3rd August 1934, Page 54
3rd August 1934
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT

THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS

P.S.V. CONCESSIONS IN ROAD TRAFFIC ACT.

pIPORTANT provisions concerning public service vehicles are included in the Road Traffic Act, 1934, which has now received Royal Assent. The main terms of the measure are dealt with on page 844.

In Part IV, Clause 24 simplifies the definitions of stage and express carriages, whilst the next two Clauses relate to contract carriages and were • published in The Commercial Motor on May 4. Clause 27 removes from the Traffic Commissioners the obligation of holding a public sitting in cases of application for licences for occasional excursions. In the following Clause, it is provided that backings need not be obtained in corridor areas in which vehicles do not stop to pick up or set down passengers. The Commissioners in the primary area must, however, consult the Commissioners of the cortidor areas regarding routes, etc.

Clause 29 makes it clear that a local authority has power to make charges for the use of a bus station that is not part of a highway.

Under Part V. Clause 40, the normal period for a driver's or conductor's licence is three years.

ARBITRATION CASES CONTINUE.

I N last week's issue we reported the commencement of the hearing of the claim of the City Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., against the London Passenger Transport Board. The hearing of the case by the London Passenger Transport Arbitration Tribunal was continued towards the end of the week, when it was stated that a subsidiary of the City concern was New Empress Saloons, Ltd„ both companies being managed by Mr. W. F. Mallender and Mr. W. Crook.

They were appointed managing directors by resolutions of the board of directors, but bad no written contracts of service. Four-fifths of their time was said to be devoted to the management of the City concern, and it was argued that their personal services should be transferred to the Board, the extent to be decided by the Tribunal.

The Board replied by saying that verbal contracts of service did not form part of the property to be transferred. A question concerning the company's garage had been settled and the Board takes over the premises.

Mr. Joshua Scholefield, K.C., chairman of the Tribunal, protested at the delay in the proceedings before the court and stated that, in his opinion, B42 the Tribunal's award on the City case should be made so soon as possible and should be final.

The City concern has submitted to the Tribunal a claim for the transfer of its undertaking to the Board.

LATEST SCOTTISH MERGER.

THE Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners have granted permission to the Caledonian Omnibus Co., Ltd., Dumfries, to take over the tours formerly operated by Messrs. Francis Bisset and Son, Kirkmahoe, with the exception of tours to Kippford and Douglas Hall.

BIG YORKSHIRE CO. EXTENDING.

THE Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., is applying to the North Western Traffic Commissioners for the transfer of a licence held by E. Mills (Barnsley); Ltd., foi an express service from Barnsley to Blackpool and to the East Midland Commissioners for a backing for a Barnsley-Skegness express service, previously granted to Lancashire and Yorkshire Motors, Ltd.

STOCKTON-IVIIDDLESBROUGH MERGER FAILS.

ONCE again negotiations for the merger of the transport undertakings of Stockton and Middlesbrough Corporations have fallen through. Several meetings have been held, but no practical agreement could be reached. On this occasion the suggestion for amalgamation was advanced by Middlesbrough, but some years ago, when Stockton made a. similar suggestion, that also collapsed.

50-60 PER CENT. OF YORKSHIRE SERVICES RUN AT A LOSS.

" CIFTY to sixty per cent, of the ser

vices vices in this area run at a loss," declared the chairman of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners (Mr. Joseph FarndaIe), at Leeds, on Monday. He made this remark during the hearing of an application by Leeds Corporation for permission to run buses from Leeds to Guiseley, in place of trams. Mr. Famdale also said: "The Commissioners are not concerned whether the service is run at a profit or at a loss."

It was stated that the length of the proposed route would be over 13 miles. The objectors included the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., Mr. Samuel Ledgard., and the urban district councils of Horsforth, Yeadon, Rawdon and Guiseley.

The Commissiofiers reserved their decision. EASTERN NATIONAL-HILLMAN BIDS PARTLY SUCCEED.

THE Eastern Traffic Commissioners

have announced their decisions on the applications of the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., reported in The Commercial Motor on July -20 and 27, for the transfer of the licences of, and the discontinuance of certain services of, Edward Hillman's Saloon

Coaches, Ltd. The " Eastern National" has purchased that part of the Hillman coach business which has not been transferred to the London Passenger Transport Board.

The Commissioners have approved the cessation by the Eastern National concern of the Hillman express services from London (Bow) to Yarmouth, Norwich and Ipswich. They consider that " more than ample" facilities will remain after the services have ceased.

The application for the transfer of the licence in respect of the LondonColchester service, which has been operated by Hillman's as part of its Ipswich -service, has been refused on the ground of redundancy. Another proposal to operate the Hillman concern's all-the-year-round service from London to Clacton, in addition to the existing Eastern National summer service, has been vetoed, also on the ground of redundancy.

The Commissioners regard as too drastic the Eastern National concern's proposal to reduce by half the frequency of the combined Eastern National and Hillman services on the London-Chelmsford route. The number of passengers carried and the receipts show a steady increase, and, the Commissioners state, there is other evidence of the iced for a frequent service. Pending further experience, and in view of the difficulty of defining a proper frequency, the Commissioners will require a service of at least 15minute headway from Chelmsford. to Brentwood, and vice-versa, and a 30-minute service in each direction between Chelmsford and London.

The request of George Ewer and Co.,• Ltd., that passengers should not be carried at summated fares on this service for transfer at Chelmsford to other stage services for Harwich, etc., has not been met.

STATION FOR HARTLEPOOL.

ANEW bus station to cost £5,958 is to be erected by West Hartlepool Town Council. In addition to the cost of erection is £5,657 for land. The plans provide for the construction of covered platforms and offices. BID FOR FEWER RESTRICTIONS IN TH.E NORTH-WEST. .

EFFORTS were made, a few days ago, by coach operators in Manchester, Salford and the adjoining areas to persuade the North Western Traffic Commissioners to remove the restriction on the number of vehicle journeys and to permit the operation of the co-operative scheme for the pooling of excursion and tour passen

gers. Consideration of the question occupied about two days.

Mr. Howard Robinson, secretary of the local area of the Commercial Motor Users Association, said that the cooperative working arrangement was established in 1929; it had eliminated light running and was useful from the point of view of the public.

Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman of the Commissioners, replied that the scheme had been discarded owing to administrative difficulties; nevertheless, they considered that it had its uses. Operators had not been observing the conditions regarding period bookings, and the Commissioners had abandoned the inter-working arrangement in order to regain control of coach traffic. Mr. Robinson declared that, under this restriction, operators were suffering more than those in any other area, but the Commissioners disputed the fairness of this statement, It was decided that some of the applications would have to be considered at a later date, and decision was reserved until all had been heard.

FURTHER PROTECTION ' REFUSED.

A FURTHER stage in the rivalry be

tween Portsmouth Corporation and Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., was reached at a sitting of the SouthEastern Traffic Commissioners last Friday. The corporation objected to the renewal of the Southdown concern's licence in respect of stage services from Portsmouth to outlying places.

Sir Henry Piggott, C.B., C.B.E., chairman of the Commissioners, said that they were impressed by the corporation's reorganization scheme and would give it sympathetic consideration, but they did not propose to vary the Southdown company's fare schedule to provide increasftel protection for the municipal transport undertaking.

BLACKPOOL-CARDIFF ROUTE IN CO-ORDINATION SCHEME.

DECISION on an application by Associated Motorways (the six companies participating in the " Cheltenham co-ordination scheme ") for a licence for a co-ordinated daily service from Cardiff to Blackpool, with connections for Swansea, Bristol, Westonsuper-Mare, etc., was, a few days ago, reserved by the North Western Traffic Commissioners. The proposal was to incorporate the Cardiff-Blackpool service of Red and White Services, Ltd., in the big co-ordination scheme. Licences had, it was stated, been granted in all the other areas concerned. Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman of the Commissioners, pointed out that they must consider the question of protection for parallel services. They had no control over the agreement between the six companies and, if it were broken, a situation might arise in which the six concerns. claimed the right to run a Cardiff-Blackpool service.

TOURING COACHES NOT THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS.

WHEN the General Motor Carrying W Co. and Messrs. Simpson and Forrester applied to the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners for permission to operate tours over a number of unclassified roads in Fife, Mr. Henry Riches, chairman of the Commissioners, referred to the toll of the roads. In reply, the advocate for the two companies said that he understood that, in the past year, there had been no accident on an unclassified road, as the result of a coach tour.

LICENCE TRANSFER REFUSED.

PERMISSION to transfer a licence was, last week, refused by the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, Mr. "J. Bland, of Grantham, stated that he had purchased for £600 the GranthamGonerby service of Mr. Gircllestone and sought the transfer of the licence. He added that the deal was completed in two minutes.

Mr. W. J. Simmons objected on the ground that he operated a service over the same route and had been promised the first offer of• the purchase of Mr. Girdlestone's business, and he was prepared to repeat his offer of £600 for it. When the Commissioners announced that they would refuse the application, Mr. Bland said that he would appeal.

CO-ORDINATION DELAY CAUSES HULL BUS LOSS.

DELAY in putting into effect the co-:ordination agreement between Hull Corporation and East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., which has, on several occasions, been referred to in The Commercial Motor, was stated, at a meeting of Hull Transport Committee, to be the reason for the deficit on the bus undertaking in the year ended March 31 last.

The buses worked at a loss of £16,685, whereas the trains earned a profit of £982. Certain special expenditure increased the deficit to £27,296, and this figure has been charged to the reserve fund. That fund, standing at £31,153, was said to be inadequate. During the past year the capital expenditure on the undertaking amounted to £61,888.

TROLLEYBUS OR OILER !, COSTS COMPARED.

I NTERESTING comparisons between the operating costs of trolleybuses and oil-engined buses are contained in a report prepared by Mr. J. Mould, engineer and manager of Leicester Corporation's electricity department. The municipality is investigating more modern methods of transport with a view to the possible displacement of the tramways system.

It is stated that when the Leicester races were held, 169 trams, eaels seating 56 passengers, were simultaneously in operation, affording a total of 9,464 seats. To provide that seating capacity, 190 50-seater off-engined buses, similar to those at present in use in the city, would be required, and, including 10 spare vehicles, a fleet of 200 buses would be needed at a cost of £360,000. The annual capital charge would be £53,500.

On the other land, 60-seater trolleybuses of the same overall dimensions as the oilers were being built and only 158 of these would be needed, or including 10 spare vehicles, 168, the total expenditure being £334,000, or £41,200 a year. In addition, modifications to the overhead cable system wouldcost £25,900 (£1,500 a year). On the basis of 4,720,000 miles a year, the trolleybus working expenses would be £239,630, as against £.243,990 in respect of oilers.

Detail items in favour of the trolleybus are stated to be an economy of £2,760 a year on lubricants, £13,500 on taxation and £3,640 on capital expense. Power would, however, cost an ad-■ ditional £8,500, as compared with oilers, whilst electrical equipment would add a further £7,000. The total annual cost of running trolleybuses would, according to the report, be £282,330, or 14.3d. per bus-mile, whilst oilers would cost £297,490, or 15.1d.

A suggestion is made by a member of the transport committee that trolleys buses could be equipped with batteries, so that they could leave the overhead system and serve outlying districts. This proposal is said by Mr. A. E. Morrison, of the Leicester concern of electric-vehicle makers, to be feasible.

MORECAMBE'S "PHENOMENAL " YEAR: £8,600 PROFIT.

AT a meeting of Morecambe Town Council, a few days ago, it was stated that the municipal transport undertaking had experienced a " phenomenal " year. During the 12 months ended March 31 last, the buses worked at a gross profit of £18,872, as compared with £14,163 a year earlier, whilst the net profit was £8,592, against £3,905 in 1932-33. Altogether 6,646,598 passengers were carried, or 648,978 more than in the year before.

It was mentioned that the transport committee hoped to bring the bus fleet up to date, but the first necessity would be new garage facilities, to cost 210,000-£15,000. In March last, the corporation ran 36 buses of Guy, A.E.C., Dennis, Maudslay and Karrier makes. BID FOR LICENCE RENEWAL AFTER DEATH OF HOLDER.

DURLNG,a sitting at Dumfries, last week, the Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners were faced with an unusual situation when th,e transfer of the licence held by the late Mr. Dickson, of Kirkpatrick-Durham, was sought in favour of Miss Agnes Dickson, his nextof-kin. It Was stated that she did not propose to operate the business, but desired to sell it as a going concern.

Mr. A. Henderson, chairman of the Commissioners, said the case was unprecedented, because the deceased's licence had actually expired, and the service had been operating under an application for renewal. . The regulations made provision for a death during the currency of the licence, but not during its continuation pending a possible renewal., The Commissioners deferred their decision.

PERTH LICENCES TRANSFERRED QUESTION OF PAYMENT.

AT a sitting of the Northern Scotland .Traffic Commissioners, at Dunfermline, last week, licences for the Perth bus services were renewed in favour of W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., Falkirk, which has leased the undertaking from the corporation for 21 years.

Questioned by Mr. H. Riches, chairman of the Commissioners, regarding the annual payment to the corporation of £1,500, Mr. Adam, Perth town clerk, explained that this sum would meet the interest on sinking-fund charges. When outstanding capital charges on horse-drawn vehicles, electric trams and road restoration were paid off, the £1,500 would be available for the Perth ratepayers.

Mr. Riches asked whether the travelling public had no right to participate in this money. He pointed out that after the capital charges had been wiped out, that question would ariLe.

ROAD-TRANSPORT M.P.

iT is expected that at the next meeting of the executive committee of the Yorkshire Stage Carriage Operators Association a decision will be made whether to adopt the suggestion that the-Association should sponsor a roadtransport candidate for Parliament at the next General Election. It is understood that, if a candidate be put forward, he will, in addition to his special interest in road-transport matters, stand for private enterprise generally.

MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE POOLS WITH RIB BLE CO.

rrHEI fact that Burnley, Nelson and Colne Joint Transport Committee and Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., have pooled their services in the SkiptonColne area was mentioned at a sitting of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners.

The point occurred during the hearing of an application by the Committee for permission to run services from Skipton to Earby, Earby to Barnoldswick, Coins to Barnoldswick, and Coins to Gishurn.

It was stated that the Colne-Gisbum route was the only one in the area eonB44 cerned over which the Committee had not now running powers. The granting of the application would enable the Committee to complete its pooling scheme with the Ribble company.

With regard to the other three routes, a previous application for consent was granted in 1933, but the Minister of Transport ordered the Commissioners to revoke their consent. The Minister appeared to take the view that more evidence of the need for further services on those routes was required. That evidence was, it was submitted, now available.

All the applications were granted.

CO-OPERATIVE PUBLICITY BY 16 CONCERNS.

CO-OPERAT1V,E publicity on behalf of 16 of its members has been undertaken by P.S.V. Operators, Ltd., 52, Bedford Row, London, W.C.1, the independent operators' booking organisation, which has issued three striking posters showing services to the Midlands and Lancashire, East Midlands and the North East and East Anglia.

The posters indicate the routes, the principal towns served and the names of the operators.

An advantage of such a publicity scheme is that a maximum amount of information can be given in a minimum of space.

BLACKPOOL BAN LIFTED.

AVEXED problem affecting coach owners and passengers, as well as caterers, has been settled in Blackpool. The town council has had a restriction in force forbidding the alighting of parties at the doors of the destination premises. Rumours reached the big seaside resort that coach owners in inland towns were urging their customers to visit places where reasonable facilities existed for parties to alight.

Caterers in Blackpool protested, but the matter was referred from one municipal committee to another, and finally to the whole body of councillors. They ccinceded the application, with two provisos:—(a) Parties may be unloaded at any hotel, cafe, etc., where meals are booked in advance; (b) they may be reloaded at the same place if they stay overnight. MAIDSTONE CO. FINED IN DRIVERS' HOURS CASE.

AFINE of £10 was imposed, at Chatham police court, on Friday, on _Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., for permitting a driver to drive without 10 consecutive hours' rest in the 24 hours of July 6-7. A summons against the chief engineer, Mr. H. 0. Hallos, for causing the offence, was dismissed. Pleas of " Not guilty " were entered.

The driver said that on July 6 he commenced driving at 1.29 p.m. and continued until 5.19 p.m. He then had a 30-minute break for a meal and afterwards resumed driving at 5.59 p.m. He returned to the depot at 8.14 p.m. and had a 40-minute break. He then continued driving until 11.48 p.m. and booked off duty at midnight. He was detailed to work an early shift the next day. He went on duty at 6,20 a.m. and had 6 hours 20 minutes rest.

On July 7 he commenced driving at 6.35 a.m. and continued until 11.50 a.m. He was then instructed to remain at the depot in case he was wanted for duty. He was required and at 2 p.m. took over the relief London coach and eventually hooked off at 6.30 p.m.

The defence submitted that the offence, which was technically admitted, had arisen as the result 01 a bona-fide mistake on the part of the foreman driver, who was responsible for the allocation of drivers' duties. The company had no knowledge of the matter.

YARMOUTH TRAM LOSS OVERBALANCES BUS PROFIT. DURING the year .ended March 31 last, Yarmouth Corporation's combined bus and tram undertakings worked at a net loss of £1,837. The buses contributed a net profit of £4,399, but the loss on the trams of £6,236 more than offset this favourable balance. During the year, the trams were abandoned.

The bus traffic receipts amounted to £47,171, as compared with expenditure standing at £35,638. On a per-busmile basis, the traffic revenue worked. out at 11.43d, and the expenses at 8.637d. The buses carried 5,931,946 passengers.


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